With its location bordering Mexico and Guatemala, we expected Belize to be very similar to its neighboring Latin American countries, but we were so wrong! Belize is a unique Latin American country that feels much more like a mix of Mexico, Jamaica, and Louisiana. Their national language is English as it is a former British colony, but their country seems more like a melting pot of cultural influence. Belizeans flow in and out of English, Spanish, and Creole with ease! It was fascinating to see a country in Latin America with such a mix of influence and how that influence impacts different regions in the country in different ways. We can’t wait to go back and explore more of Belize, but for now let’s talk about San Pedro
San Pedro is a town on the southern part of the island of Ambergris Caye. It is relatively small with only 3 main roads in the town and 1 main road heading North and South. The main way to get around San Pedro is via golf cart which you can rent for roughly $40 a day, but you can also negotiate multi day rates. We stayed in town and opted not to rent a golf cart everyday.
How To Get Here
You can either fly or take a ferry to San Pedro. If you are taking a ferry, here are some options:
From Belize City: You can hop on a ferry that takes around an hour and 15 minutes and costs about $55 BZD round trip (or $27USD)
From Playa Del Carmen or Cancun: From these locations we took the ADO bus. From Playa Del Carmen, it was a 4 1/2 hour bus ride to Chetumal, where we then grabbed a ferry. The bus was super comfortable and had movies playing throughout the journey.
From Chetumal: You can also hop on a ferry that takes roughly an hour and a half. It cost around $50 USD a person and departs around 3 PM every day. Something to note is that when coming from Chetumal, you will go through immigration and customs. Do not bring any fruit and be prepared to pay $2.50 USD per person in cash when entering. Also there are 2 different ferry services that operate this route with one operating one day and the other the next. We rode both services and here were our thoughts.
Belize Water Jets : This Ferry was much smaller with only bench seating. If you are claustrophobic I would recommend waiting and booking on the other option. With that being said we found the staff on this boat much kinder and helpful.
Belize Express: This Ferry was larger with both chair seating and bench seating offered. If you like having more space, traveling the day this departs may be a better option for you.
Also Note: If you return from San Pedro to Mexico you will pay a fee when entering Mexico of ~$30 USD a person.
Getting Around
In San Pedro, the best way to get around is by renting a Golf Cart. They run about $40 a day, but you can negotiate multi day rates as well. There are tons of rental spots around the city so acquiring a golf cart is relatively simple.
Where to Stay: Blue Tang Inn
We stayed at the Blue Tang Inn in San Pedro and loved this hotel. It is on the water, but also in main San Pedro making it easy to walk around town, to a local playground, or if you have a sitter, to local bars at night. There is sand and chairs in front of the hotel, but not direct beach access, but you can easily swim off the docks. The rooms are similar to lofts and large enough for a family with 2 beds and a futon as well as a kitchen and table. The staff was so so friendly and welcomed us every morning with a continental breakfast. It was also the perfect location to hop on a sail boat just steps away from the front of the hotel.
Things To Do With Kids
San Pedro was the perfect spot for kids as getting around the island was easy and most places were SUPER kid friendly. Here is a list of some of our favorite activities
Central Park
Central park is just a 10 minute walk from Blue Tang along the water. The kids always love a playground and this one was awesome because we could enjoy the views while they played.
Secret Beach
Secret Beach is a 40 minute super bumpy golf cart ride North, but a wonderful day trip. When you arrive you can pick from a variety of restaurant bars to hang out in for the day and use their free chairs, picnic tables, games, and floaties for the day. We loved a small bar called “Bamboo Bar” (to your left of the beach if facing the water) since it had tons of games to keep the kids busy like Jenga, Corn Hole, and swings. If you go, look for where we signed our names and send us a picture! While Secret Beach isn’t a beach with lots of white sand, the crystal clear water is perfect for kids to play in and the island vibes won’t disappoint. On you way there, you pass by some marshes so keep a look out for crocodiles, we spotted 2! Around 4PM most people head back towards San Pedro, but we stuck around for sunset and had the place and incredible views all to ourselves. If you stay for the breathtaking sunset be sure to pack bug spray, because the second the sun starts gong down the mosquitoes come out!
The Truck Stop
I can’t think of a more perfect place to spend your evening with kids than the Truck Stop. With several food truck-type restaurants to choose from, movie nights, life music, game nights, a pool, and tons of activities, it is the perfect place to end the day. It is also an amazing place to catch the sunset from their beautiful deck. The Truck Stop is a place where everyone in the family will have fun and you can meet a lot of expats and travelers. We loved stopping in around 5PM on our way back from Secret Beach.
A Day at Sea
The absolute highlight of our trip was sailing Sirena Azul! The gorgeous sail boat took us out to the Belize Barrier Reef so we could snorkel the Hol Chan Marine Reserve & Shark Ray Alley. It was by far the best snorkeling we have ever done. We saw reef sharks, sting rays, manta rays, dolphins, and tons of fish during our day! The crew was awesome with our kids who were so excited to see marine life and sing “Baby Shark.” From the smooth sailing and looking at the gorgeous waters to the snorkeling experiences at both locations, we wish we could have done this trip 2 times during our week stay. Don’t miss it! The trip is 3.5 hours long and currently costs $60 USD per person.
Where To Eat
We absolutely loved the food in Belize, every dish at each of the places we visited was incredible!
Elvi’s Kitchen
Elvi’s kitchen is a well-known restaurant in town and for a good reason, it is delicious!!! I loved their coconut chicken curry dish that had a twist with plantains and raisins. They also had a wonderful kids menu where our kids enjoyed Mac’ n Cheese and a grilled cheese. It isn’t the cheapest option on the island, but we thought it was well worth the price.
The Truck Stop
The Truck Stop, also featured above, is another great stop for dinner and ice cream. With various vendors to choose from (like Pizza, Caribbean, and Asian Fusion), there is a little something for everyone in the family!
Maxi’s
Maxi’s is actually owned by the same owner as Elvi’s restaurant so it is no surprise we loved it as well! We loved grabbing lunch here and checking out their daily specials. Make sure to try their tomato soup, it has a distinct and delicious flavor that we couldn’t get enough of!
Final Thoughts
Ultimately, we were really pleasantly surprised by our experiences in San Pedro. The island was small, the people were kind and helpful, the experiences were absolutely worthwhile, and the food was delicious! Although it might be a bit more complex traveling to Ambergris Caye, it is absolutely worth it and 5 days at this island is more than enough to see the beauty that it has to offer.
